Watch Graduation

Graduation is a Romanian drama film directed by Cristian Mungiu, released in 2016. The movie portrays the story of a father and his daughter, who is about to graduate from high school with the highest grades, opening doors for her to study medicine in the UK. The movie depicts their daily lives, and how small events in their lives affect their relationships and how their choices shape their future.

Set in a small Romanian town, the movie depicts the challenges faced by the father, Romeo, to help his daughter, Eliza, achieve her dreams. Romeo, who works as a doctor, finds his life upended when Eliza is sexually assaulted on her way to school. This tragedy forces him to make tough decisions during a critical period in his daughter's life. Romeo is convinced that Eliza's future is far better off in the UK, where she will receive better education and training than she could ever hope to get in Romania. However, as graduation day approaches, his carefully laid plans start to unravel, forcing him to confront the many challenges that come with making difficult choices.

While Romeo works hard to secure Eliza's future, he must also deal with the various problems arising in his own life, such as his affair with a patient's mother, the deteriorating health of his mother and his marriage falling apart, all of which are taking a toll on him. Romeo finds himself being dragged into a world of corruption, a world in which an innocent victim can go unnoticed while guilty parties are rewarded. In the face of all these events, Romeo becomes increasingly desperate, and his actions slowly become darker and more questionable as he tries to protect his daughter's future.

Graduation is a slow-burning movie that builds up the intensity, exploring the flaws of the human character and the compromising situations that we find ourselves in. It's a film that examines the choices we make, and how they shape the lives of the people around us. The movie is a sombre tale about guilt, corruption, and betrayal and will resonate with anyone who has seen the consequences of poor decisions affecting those close to them.

The visuals of Graduation are beautifully shot, and the movie immerses one into the everyday lives of people in Romania. The performances of the actors are impressive, especially that of Adrian Titieni, who plays Romeo, the concerned father. The movie's soundtrack is minimalistic but works well in creating an atmosphere of tension.

Graduation has been praised not just for its excellent narrative but also for its direction and writing. The film won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, and Mungiu was also nominated for the Palme d'Or. The movie has also received generally favourable reviews from critics, who have credited Mungiu for his ability to create deeply moving and insightful stories.

In conclusion, Graduation is a powerful movie that explores the contradictions of human nature and the challenges we face when trying to make life-changing decisions. It is a poignant, thought-provoking drama about the importance of educational opportunities, and how far a parent may go to ensure their child's future. With relatable characters and a resonant storyline, Graduation is an engaging and intense experience that will leave audiences thinking long after the credits have rolled.